Load lifting and lowering apparatus.



APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 11, 1908.

Patented 001127, 1908.

2 SHBETS-BHEET 1.

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V. FUNGK.

LOAD LIFTING AND LOWERING APPARATUS.

. nrmcuxon FILED JUNE 11, 1903. 902,145, Patented 00112711908.

2 sums-SHEET 2.

VICTOR FUNOK, OF LUXEMBURG, GERMANY.

LOAD LIFTI-NG AND LOWEBING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed June 11, 1908. Serial No. 438,007.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, VICTOR FUNGK, a subject of the German Emperor, and residing at 8 lVIaria-Theresien avenue, in the city of Luxemburg, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lead Lifting and Lowering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

In load lifting apparatus of the type comprising an upright frame and a locking device, such as are employed for instance for lifting railway rails, it has been proposed to arrange a locking piece in an arcshaped guide slot in the frame and to produce an automatic locking of the load lever in every vertical position of the load by arranging the load lever to act upon the locking piece by means of a locking arm. Apparatus of this kind however have the drawback that the load cannot be lowered in the gradual manner which is desirable in many cases, for instance, in. shifting railway rails.

-Now this invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus of the above type which shall allow of effecting a gradual lowering of the load.

In the improved load lifting and lowering apparatus according to this invention automatic locking effect is produced by the load lever upon a locking device engaging in an are shaped slot in the frame by means of a locking device extending through arc-shaped slots in the frame of the apparatus and through an aperture in the load lever. This locking device is formed with a shoulder or projection which the load lever engages, and with another but oppositely directed projection or nose, which a hand-lever is adapted to engage for the purpose of exerting a canting action in opposition to the canting action produced by the load lever, so as to release the locking device for a longer or shorter period and thus allow the load to be lowered accordingly.

The load-lever is formed with a forkshaped portion which is adapted to embrace the locking device, and the locking device is provided with looking blocks which extend through apertures in the prongs of the load lever fork. On the base of the fork is a shoulder which acts upon a shoulder 011 the locking piece.

Two forms of apparatus embodying the improvements of this invention, and more particularly designed for lifting and lowering railway rails, are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in whic Figures 1 to 6 illustrate one form of apparatus, Fig. 1 being a side elevation showing the locking device in position for raising the load. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the position of the parts at the moment of lowering the load. Fig. 3 is a plan, Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a separate view of the locking piece and, Fig. 6 is a separate view of the load lever. Figs. 7 to 12 illustrate the other form of apparatus, Fig. 7 being a side elevation of the apparatus showing the locking device in position for raising the load. Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the position of the parts at the moment of lowering the load. Fig. 9 is a plan, and Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 11 is a separate View of the locking piece, and Fig. 12 is a separate View of the load lever.

In all the figures, similar numerals refer to the same parts.

The frame 1 of the apparatus is constructed with two side frames, 2, between which the load lever, 4, is mounted to rotate on a horizontal fulcrum pivot, 8, one arm 5 of this lever serves to lift the load constituted in the eX- ample shown by a railway rail, .6. Each of the sector-shaped side frames, 2, is formed with an arc-shaped slot, 14, concentric with the fulcrum pivot, 3, of the load lever. The arc-shaped outer edge of each of the two side frames is provided with recesses 16 forming tooth-spaces adapted for the reception of the end portions of the fulcrumpin 17 of a hand lever, 18. The end of that arm of the load lever, i, to which the power is applied, is formed as a fork between the prongs of which there is a roller, 8, and a locking piece, 9. This locking piece as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 is formed in front with a shoulder, 11 formed at the root of the forked end of the load lever 4. Two locking blocks, 12, are located transversely in an aperture in the locking piece, 9, and extend also through apertures, 13, in the prongs of the fork and also through the arc-shaped slots, 14, of the frame against the edges of which they are adapted to bear. These blocks, 12, can be easily inserted in the aperture in the locking piece before the insertion of the fulcrum pivot, 3, of the load lever, by moving the load lever for this purpose. That end, 19, of the hand lever, 18, which is furthest from its fulcrum pin, 17, is bent off at an angle and is shaped as a wedge for the purpose of allowing it to be introduced underneath the nose, on the locking piece (Fig. which is directed in the opposite direction to the shoul der 10, of the said locking piece. The hand lever is formed near this wedge-shaped" end with a recess 21, adapted to fit the roller, 8, on the load lever.

The manner of operation of the lifting apparatus provided with the described locking gear is as follows: The end, 5, of the load lever, 4, having been placed under the rail or load, 6, which is to be lifted (Fig. 1), the pivot pin, 17, of the hand lever, 18, is inserted into the corresponding recess, 16, of the frame, 1. ()n moving the hand lever, 18, in the downward direction, the said lever exerts a downward pressure upon the roller, 8, of the load lever whereby the latter is moved down and with it the locking piece 9. \Vhen the action of the hand lever, 18, ceases, the weight of the load tends to move the load-carrying arm, 5, of the load lever downwards. As in this movement the shoulder 11 at the root of the fork of the load lever presses the shoulder, 10, of the locking piece up to some extent, there is imparted to the locking piece, 9, a canting movement, in consequence of which the side, 15, of one of the locking blocks, 12, becomes jammed in the arc-shaped slots, 14, of the frame, so that the load, is held thereby autoi'natically in the locking position. The pivot pin, 17, of the hand lever can now be placed in the next lower recess, 16, in the frame and the load be lifted a further distance, because the locking effect of the locking piece ceases as soon as in the downward movement of the hand lever, 18, the shoulder,,11, of the load lever ceases to act upon the shoulder, 10, of the locking piece. WVhen it is desired to lower the load, 6, the jamming of the locking blocks, 12, in the arc-shaped slots, 14, must also be relieved. For this purpose the wedge-shaped end, 19, of the hand lever, 18, is introduced underneath the nose, 20, of the locking piece and the hand lever is placed with its recess 21 on the roller, 8, of the load lever as a fulcrum. hen, then the hand lever be moved down, a canting movement in the opposite direction will be imparted to. the locking piece, 9, whereby its jamming action in the arc-shaped slots, 14, will cease,

and it is then merely necessary to allow the load carrying arm, 5, of the load level, 4,

to descend under the weight of the load,in order to cause the parts to return into their former relative positions, for instance into the normal position of the apparatus wherein the load carrying arm, 5, of the load lever is most depressed (Fig. 1).

In order to lower the load intermittently, the wedge-shaped end, 19, of the hand lever is inserted under the nose, 20, of the locking piece, and the hand lever, 18, is raised slightly so as to release the locking blocks, 12, in the arc-shaped slots, 14. As soon as the locking piece is released, it will become jammed again by the action of the load lever on its. shoulder, 10. In this manner the load can be lowered through the desired distance.

Although the locking mechanism has been described in the foregoing description as applied to a lifting apparatus provided with a load lever, it is to be understood that the hereinbefore described locking mechanism is not limited to such application, and that the said locking mechanism can be applied to other lifting apparatus having a lever which, like the load lever hereinbefore referred to, moves proportionally to the movement of the load, and for which purpose there are provided a locking piece 9, and arc-shaped. slots in the frame upon which the locking blocks, 12, act.

In the forming of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12, the locking piece 9 is provided with an aperture for only one of the two locking blocks, 12, to extend through. The other locking block rests in a shallow open-fronted recess in the rear edge of the locking piece. The two locking blocks extend transversely through the apertures 13 in the prongs. of i the fork of the load lever 4 and also through the arc-shaped slots 14 in the side frames 2. By this means more freedom of movement is allowed to the locking blocks under the canting action of the load, and the load arm, 19, of the hand lever, 18, which operates to release the locking blocks 12 for the purpose of lowering the load, can be made shorter.

The load arm, 19, is provided with a pivot, 23, and a recess 24. Instead of bearing by means of a recess on the roller 8 of the load lever, 4,, for releasing the locking blocks, as

in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the

arm, 19, bears with its pivot 23 on a shoulder 25 located near the apertures 13 in the load I lever fork (Figs. 8 and 12). The load lever fork is provided above the apertures 13 with j a transverse pin 22 on which the recess 24 of the hand lever 18 can take a bearing.

10 is the lower projection of the locking piece 9 on which the heel, 11, of the load lever acts in the usual manner. In this construction the upper projection 20 of the locking piece lies quite free above the upper lockingblock 12 (Fig. 11). Since the load .arm. 19 of the hand lever which serves to release the locking blocks for lowering the load, can be made shorter, the advantage is gained that the lowering of the load may be effected. with less exertion and therefore with greater accuracy.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 7

1. In load lifting and lowering apparatus,

the Combination of a stationary frame with an arc-shaped slot therein, a load lever having a movement proportional to the movement of the load pivoted in said frame with a transverse aperture therein, a locking device having a front shoulder and a rear shoulder and extending transversely through said arc-shaped slot and also through the aperture in said lever, said front shoulder being adapted to engage said load lever, and said rear shoulder being adapted to transmit a canting strain opposing the canting tendency of said lever, whereby the locking device is released and the load is lowered in a corresponding degree, as set forth.

2. In load lifting and lowering apparatus, the combination of a stationary frame with an arc-shaped slot therein, a load lever having a movement proportional to the movement of the load, pivoting in said frame, with a transverseaperture therein, a locking piece having a front shoulder and a rear shoulder, extending transversely through the load lever aperture, a fork with apertured prongs formed on said load lever adapted to embrace said locking piece and a shoulder formed at the root of said fork, adapted to engage the front shoulder on said locking piece, and locking blocks mounted transversely in said locking piece and extending in said are-shaped slot.

3. [11 load lifting and lowering apparatus the combination of a staticmary frame with an arc-shaped slot therein, a load lever having a movement proportional to the movement of the load, with a transverse aperture therein pivoted in said frame, a locking piece having a front shoulder and a rear shoulder, extending transversely through the load lever aperture, a shoulder formed on said lever adapted to engage the front shoulder on said locking piece, a transverse aperture in said locking piece, an open-sided recess in the rear edge of said locking piece, locking blocks mounted in said transverse aperture and open-sided recess respectively and ex tending through an open arc-shaped slot and a hand lever adapted to engage the rear shoulder on said locking piece, in order to exert on the locking blocks, a canting move ment directed oppositely to the canting force exerted by the load lever on said locking piece, as set forth.

4-. In load lifting and lowering apparatus, the combination of a stationary frame with an arcshaped slot therein, a load lever having a movement proportional to the movement of the load pivoted in said frame with a fork having apertured prongs, and a shoulder at the root of said fork, a locking piece extending through said apertured prongs, having a front shoulder adapted to be engaged by the shoulder on the load lever fork, and a rear shoulder, andtransverse apertures, locking blocks in said apertures extending in said arc-shaped slot, a series of teeth-like recesses on said frame concentric with said arc-shaped slot, and a hand lever formed at one end with a pivot pin adapted to serve as a fulcrum for the said hand lever in one of the teeth-like recesses for lifting the load, and formed at its other end with a recess adapted to engage the load lever as a fulcrum, and with a toe adapted to engage the rear shoulder of the locking piece to lower the load, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VICTOR FUNOK.

lVitnesses VALENTIN NOESEN, ALBERT KERBER. 

